Bad Bunny Super Bowl LX halftime show is ‘disturbing,’ ex-ESPN star says

Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele said Friday that the problem with Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance had nothing to do with the fact that he was from Puerto Rico.

Steele said on “Faulkner Focus” with Harris Faulkner that his problem was that Bad Bunny had led “with hatred” since he was announced as the game’s musical headliner.

“I also want to point out one thing,” Steele said. “It’s not about someone who’s not American, and Bad Bunny is, but it’s not about that. U2, they’re from Ireland. They gave an incredible performance right after 9/11, about 20 years ago. It’s about, as an artist, leading with hate, and that’s what Bad Bunny has done since day one.

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Bad Bunny speaks onstage during the press conference for the Super Bowl LX Pregame and Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Moscone Center West on February 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

“When he says, ‘I’m not going to speak your language, you have four months to learn it,’ are you kidding me? That would never be acceptable in their country. So that’s what’s troubling. Not that he’s from Puerto Rico. For him to say he hates us, that he won’t take our money, but now he does.”

Bad Bunny said American fans should learn to speak Spanish before his performance. He attempted to walk away from that remark Thursday during his pre-show interview with Apple Music.

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Bad Bunny accepts the award for Album of the Year at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026. (Stewart Cook/CBS via Getty Images)

Steele praised Turning Point USA for giving fans an alternative halftime show for those who don’t like Bad Bunny’s music or politics. She added that she knew why the NFL was going for Bad Bunny from a business standpoint.

“I love that there’s an alternative,” Steele said. “This is America, and I give TPUSA a lot of credit for doing it. I think it was needed now more than ever. However, I think more people will probably go ahead and watch the Super Bowl halftime show with Bad Bunny, if for no other reason, because a lot of times people hate watching just to see how bad he’s going to be.

“Unfortunately, he was very clear. He told me I don’t speak English. I sing in Spanish. You have four months to learn the language.” And I think it’s that part, with the hate and the talk about ICE and so on, that bothers so many people.

Bad Bunny accepts the Album of the Year award for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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“However, what we must remember is that this is a business decision. Two years ago, only two other NFL games were held in other countries. Last season, three and, in 2025, five games.

“All the commissioner cares about right now is growing the game, and they want to be in more countries. They don’t care about what the players interviewed say or what the fans say. This is about the business of the NFL and its globalization.”

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